A TRIBUTE TO THE UNDERRATED GUITARIST

Guitarist Mick Goodrick passed away on November 16, 2002, at the age of 77.

Goodrick was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1945. He began playing guitar before he was a teenager, and at the age of 16, he became interested in jazz while attending a Stan Kenton Band Camp.

The guitarist attended Berklee from 1963 to 1967, taught at Berklee after graduating, and later became a full-time educator.

He made his recording debut with the Woody Herman Orchestra in 1970 but became best known for being a member of the Gary Burton Quartet during 1973-74. He recorded several albums with the vibraphonist and played alongside fellow guitarist Pat Metheny for a time in 1974-75 when the group was expanded to a quintet.

Goodrick also recorded with Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, Jerry Bergonzi, altoist Jimmy Mosher, Jack DeJohnette’s Special Edition, and Gary Thomas in the 1980s. He appeared on occasional recordings over the next 30 years, including collaborations with Steve Swallow and John Abercrombie. He released his first album as a leader in 1978 and four others during 1990-95.

However, most of his legacy lies in being an influential educator, with guitar students including Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Julian Lage, and Lage Lund.

Here is Mick Goodrick and Pat Metheny playing Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Meditation” in a 2005 concert at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

-Scott Yanow